‘Fear, stress’: Toronto residents pen letter to city over homeless encampment

globalnews.ca:

Toronto neighbourhood are calling on the municipal government to take action when it comes to a homeless encampment located in their community.The group, comprised of more than a dozen local businesses and residences, has penned a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow and other officials. It raises a number of significant safety concerns.“Residents are experiencing fear, stress and anxiety from this encampment,” the letter reads in part.Clarence Square Park, located near Front Street West and Spadina Avenue, is now largely occupied by tightly-situated tents.The letter is also addressed to Spadina-Fort York councillor and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, MPP Chris Glover and MP Kevin Vuong.Residents say they have witnessed a number of incidents over the past several months alone.

Among them is an alleged physical assault on a female employee from a nearby business.Their major concerns also include harassment, human feces and urine in the park and tents being heated with propane tanks.“We would like this park cleaned up. We would like it to be a safe place again,” said Jason Backs, a property manager in the area and resident himself.

“We would like to be able to take our children to the park.”For now, that is not something he is entirely comfortable with.“Unfortunately, during COVID there was an explosion of tents,” he said. “Now they have a generator.

There’s been a number of fires.”Toronto Fire Services (TFS) confirms it recently responded to a fire at the encampment. Video obtained by Global News shows thick smoke billowing and flames.